An international scientific and practical conference entitled “The Situation in the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahara-Sahel Region: Development Forecasts for 2027” was held in Moscow, organized by the Center for Scientific and Analytical Information of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
On October 18, 2026, the “Cobalt-2026” special exercise opened in the Republic of Tajikistan, in accordance with the 2026 Plan for the Joint Training of Command and Control Bodies and Formations of Forces and Assets of the CSTO Collective Security System. The exercise involves special units of internal affairs and national security agencies, internal troops (National Guard), special services and anti-drug agencies, as well as rescue units incorporated into the Special Purpose Forces formations of the CSTO Collective Operational Reaction Forces (CORF).
From October 13 to 16, 2025, the 23rd International Combat Sambo Tournament for the Cup of the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, featuring law enforcement personnel from CSTO member states, was held at the Ognikovo Park Hotel (19 Ognikovo, Istra District, Moscow Region).
Today, the final stages of the command-and-staff exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces “Indestructible Brotherhood-2026” and the special exercise with the CSTO joint NBC protection and medical support formation “Barrier-2026” took place at the Losvido and Starodorozhsky training ranges in the Republic of Belarus.
On October 15–16, a CSTO, CIS and SCO conference on security issues in Central Asia and Afghanistan was held in Moscow as part of Russia’s CSTO chairmanship programme.
6th meeting of the CSTO Coordinating Council on Biological Security held in Saratov
02.06.2026
From June 1 to 3, Saratov (Russian Federation) is hosting a series of events involving the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization aimed at strengthening the collective response system to biological threats.
The central event of the first day was the 6th meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Authorized Bodies of the CSTO Member States on Biological Security, chaired by Head of Rospotrebnadzor and Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation Anna Popova. The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as the CSTO Secretariat.
During the meeting, participants exchanged assessments of the biological situation in the CSTO area of responsibility and approved the Action Plan of the Coordinating Council for 2026–2028.
The members of the Coordinating Council agreed on a draft document establishing a CSTO Basic Organization for Research on Biological Security Issues. It is proposed that this status be granted to the Microbe Anti-Plague Research Institute of Rospotrebnadzor.
An important outcome of the meeting was the approval of a draft joint assessment of the biological security situation within the CSTO framework, which will help develop a comprehensive understanding of risks and determine future priorities for collective action. The participants also considered a proposal by the Russian side and the CSTO Secretariat regarding the development of a conceptual document on the advancement of the biological security system of the CSTO member states in the medium term.
The 7th meeting of the Coordinating Council is scheduled to take place in Saint Petersburg in December 2026.
On the same day, Anna Popova officially opened the First Conference with International Exercises of the CSTO Member States on Response to Biological Threats and delivered opening remarks. Welcoming addresses were also delivered by Governor of the Saratov Region Roman Busargin, CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov, and Director of the Microbe Institute Vladimir Kutyrev.
During the first plenary session, heads of the national delegations to the Coordinating Council presented reports on the biological security situation in their respective countries. CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov also addressed the participants, focusing on the CSTO’s activities at the present stage and emphasizing the need to further strengthen comprehensive cooperation among member states in the field of biological security.
The exercises, which began on June 2, involve more than 100 specialists from sanitary and epidemiological services and health ministries of the CSTO member states. The exercises will continue through June 3. In field conditions, the teams are practicing rapid logistics, information exchange, biological risk assessment, and risk management in response to a simulated outbreak of a particularly dangerous infectious disease.
The exercises are supported by multifunctional mobile laboratories operated by Rospotrebnadzor, including those of specialized anti-epidemic teams, mobile detection and monitoring laboratories, and portable mobile laboratory units. These facilities are capable of independently conducting up to 1,000 tests per day directly at outbreak sites. Today, the CSTO member states collectively possess more than 100 such mobile laboratories equipped with modern Russian-made equipment.
The events being held in Saratov clearly demonstrate the shared commitment of the CSTO member states to deepening cooperation and strengthening the collective biological security system.
